Takoyaki is one of many Japanese foods that make average Americans cringe. Literally translated as “fried octopus,” I love these little snacks that hail from Osaka. Made primarily of eggs, flour and octopus, Takoyaki are cooked in a specially designed pan and resemble Dunkin Donuts’ Munchkins. Covered in a sweetish sauce, mayonnaise and typically served [...]

[Read more →]

I’m not talking Rice-A-Roni here, the San Francisco treat I’m referring to is IT’S-IT Ice Cream. When I was a kid we’d often pass the IT’S-IT factory perched on the edge of Highway 101 near the San Francisco airport. I would beg my parents to stop, but alas, it never happened. I still threaten to [...]

[Read more →]

When you land at the airport in Obregón, Mexico, as we did on our way back from Puerto Vallarta, you can buy candied apples for $2 a piece. And here’s the best part - the Mexican Immigration and Customs officials are the ones selling them! Like Girl Scouts selling cookies they have them sitting [...]

[Read more →]

No matter how hot and humid the weather, we are always drawn to the smell of freshly made tortillas in Mexico. While meandering around the old-town section of Puerto Vallarta, we happened upon “Tortilleria La Gloria,” a fresh Tortilla factory. A staple and omnipresent element of the Mexican diet, “Tortillas de Maiz,” or corn tortillas, [...]

[Read more →]

Since we are in Mexico, I thought it only proper that I dedicate at least one blog post to the venerable chili pepper. Here in Mexico you often hear the refrain “si no pica, no es comida,” which roughly translates to “if it’s not spicy, it’s not food.” Suffice it to say that folks here [...]

[Read more →]

I’m in Mexico on vacation and have been reflecting on that fact that I’ve spent of about 2 years of my life here altogether….boy has the country changed over those years! When I visited for the first time in the early eighties, I was a high school language student in the colonial town of San [...]

[Read more →]

Phew, this vacationing business is hard work! Deciding between the pool and the beach is just a bit more than I can handle. After a long hard day in the sun I crave something crisp and fresh.  The perfect snack in Mexico (or anywhere, really) is sliced jicama and cucumbers with chili powder, fresh squeezed [...]

[Read more →]

It really disturbs me that I can enjoy dough deep fried in oil to such a great extent. The concept of a doughnut, when you really think about, is quite disgusting. It’s fried dough. So, I just don’t think about it. Simple as that. When the image comes to mind I just erase it - [...]

[Read more →]

I just got back from South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. If you aren’t familiar with SXSW, it’s a 3-way combo festival and trade show for Music, Film, and the Internet. I was there with Kyte.tv, who had a booth and announced very cool new live streaming features. It was a fantastic trip…highlights for [...]

[Read more →]

I recently had the opportunity to interview Craig Boreth, author of The Hemingway Cookbook. Here’s a bit of our discussion…

The Hemingway Cookbook is a favorite in my collection. I really love the way that you weave together stories, photos, and recipes from the life and work of Earnest Hemingway. How [...]

[Read more →]